Scripture Verse

Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Introduction

portrait
Catherine Winkworth
(1827–1878)

Words: Karl H. von Bo­gatz­ky, 1727 (Wach auf, du Geist der erst­en Zeug­en). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Winkw­orth, Ly­ra Ger­ma­ni­ca (Lon­don & New York: George Newnes & Charles Scrib­ner’s Sons, 1855), pag­es 31–33, alt.

Music: All’ Ehr’ und Lob Kirch­en­ge­sang­buch (Strass­burg, Ger­ma­ny: 1541) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Karl H. von Bogatzky (1690–1774)
Wikimedia Commons

Lyrics

Awake, Thou Spir­it, who didst fire
The watch­men of the Church’s youth,
Who faced the foe’s en­ven­omed ire,
Who wit­nessed day and night Thy truth,
Whose voic­es loud are ring­ing still
And bring­ing hosts to know Thy will!

Lord, let our ear­nest pray­ers be heard,
The pray­er Thy Son hath bid us pray;
For lo, Thy child­ren’s hearts are stirred
In ev­ery land in this our day
To cry with fer­vent soul to Thee,
Oh, help us, Lord! So let it be!

Oh, haste to help ere we are lost!
Send preach­ers forth, in spir­it strong,
Armed with Thy Word, a daunt­less host,
Bold to at­tack the rule of wrong;
Let them the earth for Thee re­claim,
Thy he­ri­tage, to know Thy name.

And let Thy Word have speedy course,
Through ev­ery land be glo­ri­fied,
Till all the hea­then know its force
And fill Thy church­es far and wide.
Oh, spread the con­quest of Thy Word
And let Thy king­dom come, dear Lord!